Chelsea are set to answer Antonio Conte's plea for more players by firing their summer spend spiralling towards the £250million barrier.

The Premier League champions have already made four signings for a total of £140million.

And they want to add four more to the first-team squad with Alex Sandro, Antonio Candreva, Fernando Llorente and Virgil van Dijk among the targets.

This could ease them beyond Manchester City who completed a £52m deal for Benjamin Mendy of Monaco on Monday and took their summer splurge to £230m, a world record for a single transfer window.

Juventus left back Sandro, valued at more than £60m, is still a prominent Chelsea target.

Candreva of Inter Milan is another, a versatile midfielder capable of operating in various positions on the right including as wing-back, although he is naturally inclined to attack rather than defend.

As yet, Inter have received no bid from Chelsea for the versatile 30-year-old who is crucial to the balance of their team.

Candreva only arrived from Lazio last year and is not hankering to leave but Conte likes him from their time working together in the Italy team and there is a feeling he could be prised away for less than £30m.

They have an interest in Swansea striker Llorente who worked effectively with Conte at Juventus and are close to agreeing a £12m deal for Brazil Under 20 striker Richarlison from Fluminense.